MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER
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Military riders return with generous giftBY JULIA WADE
A local RSA was the destination for a posse of motorbike riders recently, roaring up from Auckland to drop in for lunch and to hand over a large and very much appreciated cheque. Hakaru RSA members warmly welcomed 13 riders from the Auckland chapter of the Patriots Defence Force Motorcycle Club on July 7, who rumbled into the area on a collection of beautiful engines and gleaming chrome to present $1000 raised from the recent post-ANZAC Ride of Respect (ROR). The visit to Hakaru was the second trip for the solo female and 12 male riders, who were also part of an 80 strong Patriot convoy ROR to the area on April 28, an event held annually to honour New Zealand’s fallen, and to raise money for RSA’s or the Fallen Riders Trust. As he presented the cheque to Hakaru RSA president Bill Warren, Patriot’s ride captain Wayne Henry gave thanks to ‘the ladies who put on the lunch’ and says the club chose Hakaru this year due to the enjoyable time they had in April. “On behalf of the Patriots Motorcycle Club it is a pleasure to donate to you guys as so many of our RSA’s are dwindling away,” he says. “We usually choose a RSA randomly… but we had such a great time when we last came up here it’s our pleasure to gift the money from our annual Ride of Respect to your club.” Originating from Australia in 1993, Patriots first formed in New Zealand in 1998 and now has seven chapters around the country from Auckland to Marlborough and the Deep South. The family-oriented ‘side-patch’ social club offers current, former or retired motorcycling-loving servicewomen and men a chance to connect and share their passion for riding, as well as attend regular meetings, rallies and biking events including the ROR. An annual international event, Patriots throughout NZ and other overseas motorcycle clubs pay to join the ROR, with donations gifted to either an RSA or other military charities. On accepting the cheque Bill Warren thanked the Patriots with RSA members showing their appreciation with a round of rowdy applause, accompanied by ‘Lucky’ the dog who enthusiastically ‘sang’ his approval. “This money will go towards our welfare collection, the Poppy Fund, which supports service people and their immediate dependants when required, though fortunately we don’t get a lot of requests,” Warren says. “It is great to see the Patriots here again, representing all the services on their gleaming bikes; we hope to see them all a lot more.” Patriots Defence Force Motorcycle Club members with ride captain Wayne Henry handing Hakaru RSA president Bill Warren funds raised from this year’s Ride of Respect. PHOTO/JULIA WADE “It’s our pleasure to gift the money from our annual Ride of Respect to your club.” |